Out of the fire and out of the frying pan. (still via Western Mass News)

Transitions are underway at the second largest (non-school) department in the City of Springfield. Fire Commissioner B.J. Calvi is hanging up his fire hat and retiring on July 24. A longtime public safety professional who initially built his firefighting career outside the city, Calvi led Springfield’s Bravest through significant events and changes in its ranks.

On Tuesday, with Calvi standing nearby, Mayor Domenic Sarno announced that Deputy Chief for Emergency Operations Miguel Rivera would become the next Commissioner. Rivera’s ascension will make history as he becomes the first Latino leader to lead either the police or fire departments. Until then, Calvi will be wrapping up his tenure at SFD HQ and his 30-plus fire service career.

“I didn’t think I was going to get choked,” Calvi said, becoming emotional. “I think I have been able to effect some positive change here in the city of Springfield,”

“Everybody always tells you, ‘you’re going to know when it’s time.’ Over the past six months of so, it was beginning to feel it was time to move on.”

Calvi recalled intense episodes that erupted and listed accomplishments in office from improving labor relations to creating new divisions to encourage safety. However, he noted that he was turning 59 and had been commissioner for nearly nine years. In that time, many area departments saw their leadership turnover multiple times. He described the job as “all-encompassing,” a firehose of emergencies and issues. He was ready for some time for himself.

Sarno marked the “bittersweet” moment, noting Calvi’s dedication and diligence in the job. The mayor also thanked the outgoing commissioner’s family for sacrificing time for him to perform his duties.

Both Calvi and Sarno highlighted the incoming commissioner’s work in operations as deputy chief. The mayor said they would use Calvi’s last few weeks to ensure a smooth transition.

Rivera wished Calvi well in his retirement and thanked his colleagues for supporting and mentoring him over the years. He also acknowledged the historic nature of his appointment.

Rivera fired up. (via Springfield City Hall)

“Now this moment came with a special meaning for me because I am deeply proud to become the first Latino to serve as the Fire Commissioner for the city of Springfield,” Rivera said. “While I may be the first, I sincerely hope I am not the last and I hope every young person in our community sees this as proof that no matter where you come from, with hard work and integrity, with perseverance and commitment to serving others, anything is possible.”

In contrast to the Police Department, the mayor and the commissioner he appoints have full control over the Fire Department. There had been a Fire Commission not unlike the Police Commission the city has now. However, the Control Board abolished both about 20 years ago. That empowered the mayor to appoint a sole commissioner to lead the department and hire, fire, promote and discipline firefighters.

Although there was some interest in reviving the Fire Commissioner, the City Council only ever brought back the Police Commission. The incumbent Fire Chief from the Control Board era, Gary Cassanelli, transitioned to Commissioner. Sarno appointed his successors.

The first to succeed Cassanelli was Joseph Conant in 2013. Several years into the job, he failed to enforce the residency ordinance against an employee. Sarno declined to re-up his contract and brought in Calvi in 2018.

Calvi as a rookie Agawam firefighter in 1995 (via Springfield City Hall/Agawam Advertiser)

While Cassanelli and Conant were SFD lifers, Calvi had spent much of his firefighting career across the river in Agawam. During his remarks on Tuesday, Calvi said he began his career as a paramedic in the Berkshires. He joined Agawam’s fire department in 1995 where he rose to deputy chief. According to his LinkedIn page, he had also served as a hazardous materials technician for the state Department of Fire Services.

Calvi’s time leading Springfield’s Bravest included both the COVID-19 pandemic and the implementation of new personnel policies, including the application of the Residency Ordinance to firefighters for the first time in over 25 years. Commissioners had been subject to the ordinance, but collective bargaining agreements had, in effect, exempted fire personnel. The firefighters agreed to remove that exemption beginning in a 2017 contract.

Although the department has been mired in litigation for employment discrimination, some observers have said the last decade saw firefighters ranks become more reflective of the city’s demographics. Whether the impetus was residency, lawsuits or simply generational turnover, Calvi was the one who presided over this change. The city’s release on Calvi’s retirement states that Calvi had appointed 132 firefighters over his eight and a half years.

Calvi also highlighted some administrative accomplishments. He pointed to the integration of police and fire dispatch, merger of redundant divisions and establishing a new fire safety unit.

Turning to the incoming commissioner, Sarno described Rivera as a veteran and a lifelong resident. The mayor also touched on the varied nature of Rivera’s firefighting career, having spent time in several of its divisions.

The mayor also emphasized the historic nature of the appointment. Sarno called Rivera only the second Latino member of the cabinet after City Clerk and Election Commission head Gladys Oyola-Lopez. The first was arguably the late Peter Negroni, the first Latino School Superintendent. It was also unclear how Oyola-Lopez fit in. As City Clerk, she reports to the City Council, not the mayor. Whether city election chiefs are in a mayor’s cabinet is debatable but the mayor does control election office leadership.

This is not the first time Rivera had reached a milestone. Last year, he became the first Latino deputy chief. Rivera has been with the Springfield Fire Department for 17 years, working his way up through the ranks. As deputy chief of operations, he oversaw two districts the marine division, special operations and the hazmat unit.

Unlike almost every other uniformed member of the Fire Department, the commissioner is outside civil service. The city enters into what is essentially an employment contract with the top civilian leaders of the police and fire departments. This spells out salary and other benefits.

Rivera will have a contract as well. The city personnel department told WMP&I that the agreement with the new commissioner should be finalized next week.